Gold Coast RSL Club under fire after closure rumours

THE president of one of the state’s biggest RSL clubs says his office has just faced one of its toughest days, following rumours it would be shutting its doors.

THE president of the Southport RSL Memorial Club has rejected reports the venue will close, saying the club is “rock solid” and staff are all paid up.

Mark Tull said it’s been a tough day for members and staff, after rumours circulated that the club would close its doors.

The rumours began after the Southport RSL Sub-Branch confirmed it would sell its building at 36 Scarborough St, because it could no longer afford to pay the mortgage.

The Memorial Club and the RSL Sub-Branch, which owns the building, are two separate entities that have worked together and “been intricately linked” across three decades, Mr Tull said.

“We are not shutting the doors (of the Memorial Club). The club is financial and we’ve been making a profit,” Mr Tull said.

“We’ve put in an offer to buy the building and for the RSL Sub-Branch to continue to hold meetings and morning tea here and even their Anzac Day and Remembrance Day services.”

The Gold Coast Bulletin reported that in a letter to local MP Sam O’Connor, Southport RSL Sub-Branch president John Riebeling said the sub-branch could “no longer afford to pay the current mortgage.”

Mr Tull said the Memorial Club was a not-for-profit organisation that was also the guarantor on that mortgage, held by the RSL Sub-Branch.

The Southport RSL Club. Picture: Jerad Williams

He said the jobs of the 83 staff at the Memorial Club were secure but a lot of capital had to be spent on updating the venue.

“The amount of work it requires on ageing plant and equipment, I believe has been a trigger point to sell the building and we have been trying to make an offer to buy it for the past 18 months,” he said.

“They have excellent welfare and advocacy work which they want to continue in offices of their own.

“We have offered them a solution and given them money to buy a building of their own, extinguish their mortgage ... plus guaranteed to have Anzac Day and Remembrance Day services here.”

He said reports of the club closing had caused him a few headaches with booking agents and artist’s management calling him today to confirm their dates would proceed.

Legendary Aussie pub bands The Angels (Dec 7) and Boom Crash Opera (November 8) as well as Diesel (Nov 16) and Southern Sons (Nov 30) are set to play the venue leading up to Christmas.

“The timing of this news is terrible,” Mr Tull said.

“We had 21,000 ticket sales last year for our venue and we have artists wanting to come here now because our new sound system.

“They will be performing.”